DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DEPOSITING A SUBSTANCE

Abstract: A device for depositing a substance comprises a shaft (6) having a flanged wheel (7) adjustably mounted thereon and locatable against a datum edge or face (17) of a surface (16), and, mounted on the shaft (6), a tubular member (1) having an outlet (3) for depositing the substance onto the surface (16) and communicating with a container (18) containing the substance fastened to a fastening part (2) of the tubular member (1).

Description: Device and Method for Depositing a Substance The invention relates to a device and method for guiding the deposition of a substance on a surface. In particular, the invention relates to a device and method for guiding the deposition of a substance on a surface relative to a datum edge or face. It is often necessary in manufacturing or repair work to apply a bead of material to a surface, for example to bond surfaces together by forming a joint, seam or overlap, or to provide a seal such as that required to bond a car windscreen in a car body. In such cases there is often a need to apply manually a bead of adhesive or sealant material to a surface and it is desirable for that bead to be applied in a uniform manner along a particular line, which is often a straight line. A device that is often used to apply such a bead is a mastic gun. A cartridge of material (which may be mastic but need not be) is loaded into the gun and a nozzle is attached to the front of the cartridge. The gun, which may be powered manually or by some other source of power, drives a piston in the rear of the cartridge towards the nozzle thereby forcing material out of the reservoir through the nozzle. The operator uses his dexterity and judgement to guide the nozzle to achieve a suitable bead. It is very difficult for an operator to guide the nozzle precisely and therefore an irregular bead is likely to be produced, leading to a result which is unsatisfactory from an aesthetic point of view and, on many occasions, also from a functional point of view. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and method that avoid or mitigate the above- mentioned disadvantages. According to the present invention there is provided a device for guiding the deposition along a path of a substance expelled from an outlet of a container, the device including fastening means for fastening the device to the container, a tubular member one end of which is arranged to communicate with the outlet of the container when the device is fastened to the container by the fastening means, the device having an outlet at the other end of the tubular member and further including a guide assembly including a guide surface spaced from the outlet of the device, for location against a datum edge or face situated to one side of the path, the guide surface being arranged to be movable along the datum edge or face. Because the guide surface is located against the datum edge or face and moved along the edge, the outlet remains at a constant « distance from the edge and the deposition of the substance is accordingly guided along a path spaced by a constant distance from the datum edge or face. The inclusion of a guide assembly ensures that the accurate deposition of the substance along a path is not dependent on the operator's dexterity and judgement, and an improved result is achieved. The guide surface is preferably provided on a guide wheel. The guide surface is thus easily movable along the datum edge or face allowing the device to be guided smoothly. The wheel may be a flanged wheel. The flange can be rested on the surface onto which the substance is deposited, and rolled therealong, providing improved guidance for the deposition. Alternatively, the guide surface may be composed of a low friction material, for example, polypropylene. As a result, the guide surface may be easily slid along a datum edge or face and need not rotate. The spacing of the guide surface from the outlet of the device is preferably adjustable. Thus the substance can be accurately deposited along a path having a varying spacing from the datum edge or face, simply by adjusting the spacing of the guide surface from the outlet of the device as appropriate. The guide assembly may include a shaft which is connected to the tubular member and extends transversely thereto and on which a guide element providing the guide surface may be mounted. Such an arrangement is cheap and simple to construct, and is easy and reliable to use. The guide element may be adjustably positionable along the shaft to adjust the spacing of the guide surface from the outlet of the device. A locking means may be provided for locking the guide element in a desired axial position along the shaft. The guide assembly may further comprise a handle mounted on the shaft. Preferably the handle comprises the locking means. Because the handle serves as a locking means the device as a whole requires fewer parts. The shaft may be adjustably mounted on the tubular member. The height of the outlet of the device relative to the guide assembly may thus be adjusted. The fastening means may be releasably securable to the tubular member. As a result, various different fastening means for fastening different types of containers or containers having different types of outlet, may be attached to the tubular member. The fastening means may have an externally threaded portion for engagement with an internally threaded portion of a cartridge, that being the opposite of the conventional arrangement. The outlet of the device may be provided by an integral part of the tubular member. Alternatively, a jet may provide the outlet of the device, the jet being releasably securable to the tubular member. Accordingly, various different jets providing beads or strips having different cross-sections may be attached to the tubular member. According to the present invention, there may be provided a cartridge assembly including a cartridge containing a substance to be deposited along a path and a device for guiding the deposition along the path, the device being as herein described and being fastened to the cartridge with said one end of the tubular member communicating with the outlet of the cartridge. According to the present invention there is further provided a method of guiding the deposition of a substance along a path, the method being carried out employing a device comprising a tubular member and a guide surface spaced therefrom, in which the substance is expelled from the outlet of a container through the tubular member and deposited from an outlet of the device at one end of the tubular member, the deposition being guided by locating the guide surface against a datum edge or face situated to one side of the path and moving the 5 guide surface along the datum edge or face. The guide surface may be provided on a flanged wheel, the wheel being located against the datum edge or face and rolled along the datum edge or face. Alternatively the guide surface may comprise a low 10. friction surface, the low friction surface being located against the datum edge or face and slid along the datum edge or face. The method may be carried out employing a device as herein described. 15 The invention preferably further includes the use of a device as herein described for depositing a bead of an adhesive or sealant on a surface. According to the present invention there is further provided a device for guiding the deposition along a 20 path of a bead of material expelled from a container, the device comprising fastening means for fastening the device to the container, a tubular member one end of which is arranged to communicate with the outlet of the container when the device is fastened to the container by the fastening means, the device having an outlet at the other end of the tubular member, and a guide assembly for location against one or more surfaces fixed relative to the path for guiding the deposition of the bead of material. According to the present invention there is further provided a device for guiding the deposition along a path of a substance expelled from an outlet of a container, the device including a fastening means for fastening the device to the container, a tubular member one end of which is arranged to communicate with the outlet of the container when the device is fastened to the container by the fastening means, a jet providing an outlet for the device, and a guide assembly, wherein the fastening means and the jet are releasably securable to respective ends of the tubular member. According to the present invention there is yet further provided a blanking jet for use on a device for guiding the deposition along a path of a substance expelled from an outlet of a container, the jet comprising a tubular member whose internal cross-section is reduced at one end to define an outlet passage. Certain illustrative embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is a partially cut-away side view of a first form of device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded side view of a second form of the device according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a side view of the device of Fig. 1 in use; Fig. 4 is a view partly in cross-section of a further form of the device according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a partially cross-sectional view of a variant of the device of Fig. 4; and, Fig. 5a is a side view of a blanking jet for use on the device of Figs. 4 or 5. The device shown in Fig. 1 includes a tubular member 1 provided at one end with a fastening part 2 to which the outlet of a cartridge of adhesive or sealant or another suitable substance can be fastened, and having another end providing the outlet 3 of the device. The tubular member 1 communicates with a bore 4 through the fastening part 2 such that when a cartridge is fastened to the device material expelled from the outlet of the cartridge passes through the tubular member 1 and is deposited from the outlet 3 of the device. The fastening part 2 of the tubular member 1 is provided with an external thread to co-operate with a suitably internally threaded cartridge outlet. The device further includes a shaft 6 integral with the tubular member 1 and extending laterally therefrom. The shaft 6 can be adjustably mounted on the tubular member 1 such that the distance of the shaft 6 from the outlet 3 of the device is adjustable. A flanged wheel 7 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 6 on a bearing hub 8 integral with a locking nut 9. The flanged wheel 7 has an axis of rotation along the longitudinal axis of the shaft and is provided with a concentric flange 10. The bearing hub 8 and the locking nut 9 co-operate with a retaining collar 11 to retain the wheel 7 on the hub 8. The locking nut 9 is locked in position on the shaft 6 by means of a screw 12 which is screwed through a threaded bore in the locking nut 9 into engagement with the surface of the shaft 6. The distance between the outlet 3 of the device and the flanged wheel 7 is thus adjustable by sliding the bearing hub 8, the locking nut 9 and the collar 11 along the shaft 6. In the embodiment shown in an exploded view in Fig. 2., the shaft comprises an externally threaded stem portion 13 on which the flanged wheel 7 is mounted. In this case, the wheel 7 rotates on bearings provided by an internally threaded hub 14, which is screwed onto the threaded stem portion 13. A locking nut 15 is provided separately from the hub 14, and is also internally threaded. The flanged wheel is thus movable along the stem portion relative to the outlet 3 of the device by rotation of the hub 14 and is retained in position by the locking nut 15. Knurled portions are provided on the exterior of the threaded hub 14 and the locking nut 15 to facilitate rotation thereof. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the tubular member 1 and the shaft are constructed integrally. The device is used as shown in Fig. 3. to guide the deposition of a strip or bead of a sealant, adhesive or similar substance along a path on a surface 16 at a fixed distance from an edge or face (shown generally at 17) of the surface 16, wherein the edge or face 17 is used to provide a reference or datum edge or face. For example the device can be used to apply an adhesive to a car window or windscreen for bonding it in a suitable aperture in the car body. Alternatively the device can be used to apply a sealant to seams, joints or overlaps where two components of an assembly meet, for example in a car bodyshell. In such cases it is necessary to provide a bead (strip) of suitable substance along a given path', for example a straight line. Because the distance between the flanged wheel 7 and the outlet 3 of the device is adjustable, the strip or bead may be deposited at any desired distance from the datum edge or face 17 and maintained at that distance for as long as desired. In operation, the distance between the outlet 3 of the device and the flanged wheel 7 is adjusted to the desired distance by sliding or screwing the hub 8 or 14 to a suitable position and then locking it in that position using the locking nut 9 or 15 as described above. (In Fig. 3 the device is as described with reference to Fig. 1, but it will be understood that the device of Fig. 2 operates in a similar manner) . A container 18 of the substance to be dispensed is fastened at its internally threaded outlet end to the externally threaded fastening part 2 of the tubular member 1. The flanged wheel is brought into contact with the datum edge 17, the flange 11 resting on the surface 16. Material is expelled from the container 18 by means of a piston 19 at the desired rate. The container may be provided in a mastic gun of a known type, wherein the piston is driven by hydraulic or pneumatic pressure controlled by a trigger provided on the gun. In that manner a consistent rate of flow is obtained, variable in an easily controlled manner. The device is moved along the surface 16 at the desired speed, the flange 11 rolling on the surface 16 and the wheel 7 being constantly located against the datum edge 17. The shaft 6 in cooperation with the flanged wheel 7 thus provide a guide assembly for guiding the deposition of the material along a path, the flanged wheel 7 providing a guide surface. As a result a bead is deposited on the surface 16 at a consistent rate and at a constant distance from the edge 17 of the surface. The flow can be interrupted or the rate of flow can be varied in a known manner, and the distance of the bead from the datum edge or face can be adjusted where required. Accordingly a very high quality bead can be obtained having a desired thickness or variation in thickness, and can be accurately applied along a desired path. Where the tubular member and the shaft are non- integral, either may be replaceable according to the application for which the device is to be used. For example, it may be desirable to have a straight tubular member rather than one having a bend as shown in Fig. 1. A straight tubular member is often used when applying the device to vehicle windscreens and bodyshells, whereas a curved tubular member is often used in relation to door skins. The curved tubular member, furthermore, can be advantageous when using the device on less accessible areas. The bend in the tubular member is generally in the range of 10° to 30°. The fastening part to which the reservoir is fastened can be a universal attachment or can be adapted for attachment to a specific type of reservoir or container. The dimensions of the flanged wheel can be varied according to such factors as the desired spacing of the bead from the datum edge against which the device is to be located. Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention, in which the device is provided in modular form. The device comprises a tubular member 20 having threaded ends, a fastening means comprising a connector 21, a jet 22, a housing 23, a studding 24, a handle 25, and a guide element 26. The connector 21 and the jet 22 are screwed onto respective ends of the tubular member 20. One end of the connector 21 is internally threaded to co-operate with a suitably externally threaded cartridge outlet. The jet 22, providing an outlet of the device, is configured to deposit a bead of the material having a pre-determined cross-section. Because the connector 21 and jet 22 have suitably threaded portions to enable them to be screwed onto the tubular member, those parts are replaceable and/or interchangeable with other suitable parts. For example the jet may be replaced by a further jet configured to deposit a bead having a different pre-determined cross-section and a new jet may be used each time the device is used, thereby avoiding the need to attempt to clean the jet. The tubular member 20 is mounted in a bore in the housing 23, and the studding 24, having mounted thereon the handle 25 and the guide element 26, is mounted in a further, threaded bore in the housing such that the studding 24, handle 25 and guide element 26 extend laterally from the tubular member 20. The handle 25 is so shaped and of a suitable size that it can be easily gripped by the operator, as a result of which operation of the device is facilitated. For example, the handle 25 can be of circular cross- section and have a diameter of 25mm. The handle may further have an axially ribbed surface to facilitate handling. The guide element 26 is fixed rotationally, and accordingly is advantageously made of a low friction material such as polypropylene to allow it to slide more easily along a datum edge or face. The guide element 26 has a circular inner portion, for example of diameter 55mm, and a concentric flange for example of diameter 45mm. The guide element may have a suitably shaped recess (not shown) for receiving an end of the handle 25, making the device more compact and robust. The handle 25 and guide element 26 are adjustably positionable on the studding 24 by screwing those parts to a suitable position. The handle 25 and guide element 26 may be locked in position by screwing them into engagement with one another. Alternatively, the handle and the guide element may be provided integrally as a single part. The tubular member 20 is adjustably mounted in the housing 23 and retained in position by, for example, a grub screw (not shown) passing through the housing 23 and engaging a surface of the tubular member 20. To assemble the device, the tubular member 20 is first passed through the bore in the housing 23 and the jet 22 and connector 21 are screwed onto respective ends of the tubular member. An end of the studding 24 is screwed into the further bore provided in the housing 23 and the guide member 26 and the handle 25 are screwed onto the studding to the desired position and locked into position by screwing into engagement with one another. The position of the tubular member 20 in the housing 23 is then adjusted to the desired position, for example such that the outlet of the device is aligned with the circular inner portion of the guide element 26, and the tubular member 20 is locked in that position by screwing the grub screw into engagement with the surface of the tubular member 20. The operation of the device is similar to that discussed in respect of the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 except that the flange of the guide member 26 slides along the datum edge or surface, rather than rolling along. The device shown in Fig. 5 is the same as that shown in Fig. 4 except that the device of Fig. 5 includes a substantially conical connector 27 having a flanged inlet end to which an outlet of a sachet of suitable material can be fastened. During operation of the device the sachet containing the material is squeezed to expel the material. Various types of jet can be attached to the device to provide beads of different cross-sections. A wide jet, having a long slot as an outlet passage (for example having 3mm width and 7.8mm length), a narrow jet having a short slot as an outlet passage (for example having 3mm width and 6mm length) , or a windscreen jet, having a large, partially cut-away circular outlet passage (for example of 9mm diameter) can, for example, be provided. Fig. 5a shows a blanking jet 28 that can be attached to the device, having a small circular outlet passage (for example having a diameter of 1.5mm). The blanking jet 28 can be fixed to the end of the tubular member 20 in place of another jet at the end of a period of use of the device. The dispensing apparatus (which will usually be a mastic gun or the like) is then operated momentarily so that some of the material is expelled into the blanking jet and the apparatus left in that condition. The small outlet passage in the blanking jet allows sufficient air into the interior of the jet for the material within to set and form a substantially air-tight seal in the jet thereby preserving the rest of the material, including all the material in the tubular member 20. When the device is next used it is merely necessary to remove and discard the blanking jet and attach the required form of jet. The jets can be composed of polypropylene and are advantageously colour coded for ease of reference. Where the outlet of the device is provided by an integral part of the tubular member, different tubular members can be provided for producing beads having different cross-sections.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for guiding the deposition along a path of a substance expelled from an outlet of a container, the device including fastening means for fastening the device to the container, a tubular member one end of which is arranged to communicate with the outlet of the container when the device is fastened to the container by the fastening means, the device having an outlet at the other end of the tubular member and further including a guide assembly including a guide surface spaced from the outlet of the device, for location against a datum edge or face situated to one side of the path, the guide surface being arranged to be movable along the datum edge or face. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the guide surf ce is provided on a guide wheel. 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the wheel is a flanged wheel. 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the guide surface is composed of a low-friction material. 5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the spacing of the guide surface from the outlet of the device is adjustable. 6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the guide assembly includes a shaft which is connected to the tubular member and extends transversely thereto and on which a guide element providing the guide surface is mounted. 7. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which the guide element is adjustably positionable along the shaft to adjust the spacing of the guide surface from the outlet of the device. 8. A device as claimed in claim 7 in which a locking means is provided for locking the guide element in a desired axial position along the shaft. 9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8 in which the guide assembly further comprises a handle mounted on the shaft. 10. A device as claimed in claim 9 when dependent on claim 8 in which the handle comprises the locking means. 11. A device as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10 in which the shaft is adjustably mounted on the tubular member. 12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the fastening means is releasably securable to the tubular member. 13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the fastening means has an externally threaded portion for engagement with an internally threaded portion of a cartridge. 14. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the outlet of the device is provided by an integral part of the tubular member. 15. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 in which a jet provides the outlet of the device, the jet being releasably securable to the tubular member. 16. A cartridge assembly including a cartridge containing a substance to be deposited along a path and a device for guiding the deposition along the path, the device being as claimed in any preceding claim and being fastened to the cartridge with said one end of the tubular member communicating with the outlet of the cartridge. 17. A method of guiding the deposition of a substance along a path, the method being carried out employing a device comprising a tubular member and a guide surface spaced therefrom, in which the substance is expelled from the outlet of a container through the tubular member and deposited from an outlet of the device at one end of the tubular member, the deposition being guided by locating the guide surface against a datum edge or face situated to one side of the path and moving the guide surface along the datum edge or face. 18. A method as claimed in claim 17 in which the guide surface is provided on a flanged wheel, the wheel being located against the datum edge or face and rolled along the datum edge or face. 19. A method as claimed in claim 17 in which the guide surface comprises a low friction surface, the low friction surface being located against the datum edge or face and slid along the datum edge or face. 20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19 employing a device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16. 21. Use of a device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 for depositing a bead of an adhesive or sealant on a surface. 22. A device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 or by Fig. 2 or Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings. 23. A method substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. 24. A device for guiding the deposition along a path of a bead of material expelled from a container, the device comprising fastening means for fastening the device to the container, a tubular member one end of which is arranged to communicate with the outlet of the container when the device is fastened to the container by the fastening means, the device having an outlet at the other end of the tubular member, and a guide assembly for location against one or more surfaces fixed relative to the path for guiding the deposition of the bead of material. 25. A device for guiding the deposition along a path of a substance expelled from an outlet of a container, the device including a fastening means for fastening the device to the container, a tubular member one end of which is arranged to communicate with the outlet of the container when the device is fastened to the container by the fastening means, a jet providing an outlet for the device, and a guide assembly, wherein the fastening means and the jet are releasably securable to respective ends of the tubular member. 26. A blanking jet for use on a device for guiding the deposition along a path of a substance expelled from an outlet of a container, the jet comprising a tubular member whose internal cross-section is reduced at one end to define an outlet passage.

Inventors: DALE ALAN FRANCIS, DALE, ALAN, FRANCIS
Applicants: DALE ALAN FRANCIS, DALE, ALAN, FRANCIS
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B05C17
IPC codes: B05C17